Communities in Schools had no trouble selling the gathering of 300 at the annual "Stay in School" gala on the benefits of their programs that have a 99 percent success rate. In fact, by the time the lights dimmed in the ballroom of Houston Country Club, the dinner evening had raised more than $600,000.

Applause, applause for chairs Gervaise and Gary Petersen, Lucinda and Javier Loya, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin. The three couples orchestrated a streamlined program, led by emcee Lisa Malosky, rich with information on the CIS's dropout prevention programs.

Longtime board member Linda Gale White joined in the program that honored Barbara Bush and former President George H.W. Bush and Marissa and Duncan Klussman, CIS board member and superintendent of Spring Branch Independent School District.